Future To Boast Casual Trend Of Space-rich Homes

As the last decade came to a close, it became trendy for new homes to reflect the owners' lifestyles. That remains true today, especially with a casualness that typifies the nineties.

``We're going more to the casual style because people want more open space in their homes," says Bill Brown, president of Brown Builders and Remodeling Inc. in Newport News.

``And the casual style is part of the future," he says.

Immediately ahead, says Dick Dobson, are somewhat smaller houses, which are designed to look bigger. Dobson is president of C. Richard Dobson Builders Inc. in Newport News.

That larger look includes greater embellishment of decks and enlargement of sightlines in homes. The sightline is the distance someone can see in any one direction in the home.

``In some cases the line can be 40 or 50 feet," he says, ``and can go down a hall and through a room and a window and right on out of the house into a great view. It can be a heckuva feeling."

Mike Van Dyke also sees a casualness reflected in new home construction. ``The style is reflected through use of long sun rooms with things like skylights and a general openness. There is more open space which reflects casual living."

Still, he feels many of his customers want ``to incorporate formal living in the front of their homes, although the living room or dining room may be smaller than they were.

``They put the family room, breakfast room and kitchen in the back and we also have requests for great rooms in that area."

The casualness also is experienced by those who sell to the builders. Rod Huskey, owner of Huskey Hardware and Building Supply in Newport News, is one example. Steve Ward, president of Eastern Floor Covering Inc., with stores in Newport News and Gloucester, is another.

Huskey mostly provides builders with appliances, windows and doors. ``From our view, there's a real strong move to self-cleaning ranges with smooth-top burners. They have the new glass tops, something like Corningware, but they're not add-ons.

``We're also selling lots of natural gas stoves and grills that can be hooked up on decks." Another item he says builders want for new homes are gas logs for fireplaces. ``We used to sell lots of wood stoves. We sell none now. People simply like the gas logs for fireplaces."

The major reason for interest in the self-cleaning ranges and the gas logs ``is all about time. Time is the thing. Anything that saves time catches on," he say.

Ward says the casual style definitely has left an imprint on his sales, especially berber carpets. ``They are increasing in popularity, partly because they offer an open, spacious look and pastels are very popular. Lighter colors in general are being used more."

The berber, he says, has a loop pile. That type rug ``added to an open Florida room, gives a nice, airy spacious look. Also popular with the berber is a shorter, tighter twisted yarn that conceals marks on the rug. They are considered to be casual because they are basically maintenance free, virtually trackless carpets."

He says ceramic tile similarly helps provide a casual approach. In particular, squares 10 inches by 12 inches ``are very easy to maintain. However, they are not a budget item. Still, the consensus is to use the least amount of maintenance possible."

Just slightly less costly, but called ``phenomenal" by Ward, is Mannington Gold, a very high-shine vinyl floor covering with an unlimited replacement warranty the first year and a 10-year warranty. It is both casual and maintenance free."

While casual obviously is here for a while, Brown sees the housing trend going more to a ``mix of what people want because of the area we live in. The biggest call we get is for traditional-type homes, but with an open floor in much of the home.

``The traditional layout is found in the living room and dining room, but the kitchen, breakfast room and family room are all one room. Often they're connected to a screen porch or deck or sun room. That's casual style."

He says ``our family life gave us this by growing from a segregated to an integrated family. ``A segregated family went its own way. People now are growing back to being more family oriented. It's not new. It's something from the past, wanting to be together."

On the other hand, says Brown, ``we don't have as much money as we did the last decade, which were spendthrift days, and I don't see them coming back any time soon.

``So, the traditional layout will stay, but in smaller rooms, while the family, kitchen, sun room and deck are becoming larger."

The exterior looks on homes, he says, ``will go either contemporary or traditional, but either way, people want them maintenance free."

Wood, on the outside of homes, then, is a diminishing commodity. Brick isn't; vinyl isn't; the stucco-like drivit also is enjoying steady use as are aluminum facing and clad windows in either aluminum or vinyl.